Albuquerque, NM Tornado History — 25 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Albuquerque, NM had?
Albuquerque has had 25 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Albuquerque?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Albuquerque was an Unrated on August 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Albuquerque?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Albuquerque, with 7 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Albuquerque
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Albuquerque since December 29, 2025
These is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Within 25 miles of Albuquerque. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Albuquerque
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Albuquerque since 1950, across 1 event. 8 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F2 on October 10, 1974, which caused 1 fatality along a 2.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Albuquerque
About Tornadoes in Albuquerque
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Between 1950 and 2025, twenty-five tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. The majority of these events have been weak, with eighteen rated EF0 and only two reaching EF1 intensity. A single tornado achieved F2 strength, and four tornadoes remain unrated in the historical record. This distribution reflects the relatively modest tornado threat in the high desert environment of central New Mexico, where atmospheric conditions less frequently support the sustained supercell thunderstorms that produce stronger tornadoes.
Tornado activity in the Albuquerque area has varied considerably by decade. The 1980s saw the most events with five tornadoes, while the 2020s have recorded seven through 2025. In contrast, the 1960s, 1970s, and 2000s each documented only one or two occurrences. May has historically been the peak month for tornadoes near Albuquerque, accounting for six of the twenty-five recorded events. This seasonal pattern aligns with the typical late spring and early summer period when moisture from the Gulf of California or Gulf of Mexico can interact with upper-level disturbances moving across the Southwest.
The most significant tornado in the area's modern record occurred on October 10, 1974, when an F2 tornado traveled a two-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. This event resulted in one fatality and caused $275,000 in property damage, making it both the deadliest and widest tornado on record for the Albuquerque vicinity. The costliest tornado struck on September 13, 1988, an F1 event that caused $275,000 in damage despite a brief 0.2-mile path and narrow 10-yard width. The longest-tracked tornado was an F0 that traveled 15.8 miles on May 25, 1956, though it caused no reported damage.
The most recent tornado near Albuquerque touched down on August 19, 2025, an unrated event with a 0.7-mile path and 40-yard maximum width that caused no injuries or property damage. While tornadoes remain relatively uncommon in the Albuquerque area compared to regions farther east, the historical record demonstrates that these events do occur and can occasionally produce significant impacts.